"Third Brother, I understand everything you're saying. I know what I'm doing."
Xiao Wu's tone softened a little. "Alright, I won't talk to you anymore. I need to hurry and take these things back to the dorm."
"These things are so heavy, let me help you carry some," Tang San said, reaching out.
Xiao Wu quickly sidestepped, avoiding him: "No, no need! Some of these are... intimate secret clothes, and it's not convenient for you to see them. There are also things for women that aren't convenient for you to touch, so I'll do it myself."
He was rejected again.
Tang San stood frozen, feeling as if an invisible barrier had suddenly appeared between him and the girl he had grown up with.
He realized he seemed to understand nothing about girls anymore. Why could she change so quickly?
Hadn't he always helped with these things before?
If Xiao Wu could hear his thoughts, she would probably tell him helplessly: "Before? Before, I hadn't even gotten my period yet! Before, we were both still kids! You know that was 'before'!"
"Okay, alright..."
Tang San said with some disappointment, "Then hurry back. I'm waiting for you so we can eat together."
Xiao Wu's steps paused, a hint of awkwardness on her face: "Oh, that, Third Brother, you go eat by yourself. I just... already ate with Rongrong and the others."
Upon hearing this, Tang San felt a tightness in his chest, almost spitting out a mouthful of old blood. He had waited so long, only to get this one sentence?
He silently screamed in his heart: "Why? What is this all for?"
Ever since Xiao Wu met that Jiang Yunzhou, she seemed to have completely changed into a different person!
She had become a stranger to him!
She no longer clung to him like before, no longer obeyed his every word.
Watching her figure walk away without looking back, he could only silently turn and walk to the cafeteria alone, his back appearing particularly lonely.
However, deep within his downcast eyes, there was a hint of gloom.
He disliked that man named Jiang Yunzhou even more.
He instinctively and precisely blamed Jiang Yunzhou for Xiao Wu's changes.
If it weren't for the huge disparity in their strength now, he would really want to rush over immediately and 'reason' with him properly!
Half a month quietly passed.
It was only after Hu Lande arranged for the Shrek group to go to the Soul Arena for training that Jiang Yunzhou suddenly slapped his forehead, remembering what important matter he had forgotten.
He had been so focused on causing trouble for Shrek that he had forgotten such an excellent opportunity to make money!
With Zhu Zhuqing's current combat ability, sending her to the Soul Arena wasn't just sending himself a human ATM?
Wouldn't this be a small windfall?
In this half a month, Ning Rongrong had not made no progress.
On the contrary, to perform well in front of Jiang Yunzhou, she hadn't fallen behind on her studies at all.
Zhu Zhuqing had personally tested Ning Rongrong's 'Liuli Wall', and its defense was indeed quite astonishing.
Without adding the ability to penetrate armor, it would be extremely difficult to shatter that Liuli shield with sheer force alone.
Jiang Yunzhou had tailor-made a 'devilish' physical training program for them.
It could be said to cover from morning to afternoon.
The two girls were tortured to death every day.
This included: skipping rope, squats, push-ups, planks, jogging, weightlifting, yoga... After learning that regularly practicing yoga could not only strengthen the body but also shape it beautifully, both girls' eyes lit up.
He arranged mostly aerobic exercises, not just simple running or weighted running.
Given the precedent of teaching them cultivation techniques, they now trusted Jiang Yunzhou's theories without reservation.
They also didn't want to disappoint Jiang Yunzhou, so they diligently completed everything every day.
There were indeed many items, and at first, they were truly tormented.
The two girls persevered. Zhu Zhuqing was doing alright.
Ning Rongrong also completed everything, which made Jiang Yunzhou look at her with new respect.
Although Jiang Yunzhou's third Spirit Ability had healing capabilities and could instantly relieve their fatigue and muscle soreness, he did not do so.
Because he knew that true muscle growth came precisely from the repeated, exhilarating tearing and rebuilding process after exercise.
Under his 'torment', their physiques visibly strengthened day by day, and their figures became more perfect.
Of course, mental force cultivation was never neglected either.
Hard work pays off. After fifteen days of diligent cultivation, both girls broke through simultaneously, reaching level twenty-nine.
After all, after meeting Jiang Yunzhou, their starting points were similar, so it was not strange for them to break through at the same time.
Recently, Jiang Yunzhou himself had also dedicated most of his time to cultivating techniques, not deliberately pursuing an increase in spirit power level.
He picked and chose from the cultivation techniques practiced by his two disciples, also cultivating some methods suitable for himself, such as 'Glass Tile Mind Aperture' to strengthen mental perception and calculation, the pupil technique 'Netherworld Pupil', 'Telepathic Guidance' which could be used for sound transmission, and so on... He didn't want to be surpassed by his disciples someday.
Xiao Wu would also occasionally sneak over to freeload a meal, but recently, the training on Shrek's side seemed to have intensified, making her free time less flexible.
She was quite envious of the two girls' training methods. As for yoga, she was quite adept at it.
She even guided the two girls in return, helping them adjust some poses.
Jiang Yunzhou knew she possessed soft techniques, so he didn't find it too strange.
Half a month of interaction made the three girls exceptionally familiar with each other. When they gathered, they were always chattering and playing around, showing a strong tendency to become close confidantes.
All of Xiao Wu's changes were being closely watched by a pair of eyes hidden in the dark.
He felt that Xiao Wu was gradually deviating from his expected path, and he had seen his son's recent decadence and low spirits.
He felt it was time for a warning.
He couldn't directly target Xiao Wu; his son would surely be the first to object if he found out.
Therefore, the root of the problem naturally fell on the source of all these changes.
One day, in the small courtyard of Supreme Academy, it was time for the weekly meeting.
Jiang Yunzhou always adopted the demeanor of an aloof expert at such times.
With his hands behind his back, he paced and lectured his two disciples:
"The Soul Arena, I'm sure you know about it. In the past half month, I've seen your progress. But true progress is never just theoretical; it needs to be tested and consolidated in actual combat."
"So, starting tonight, you will also participate in the battles of the Soul Arena. What are your thoughts on this?"
Zhu Zhuqing was very confident and was the first to state: "Teacher, I agree!"
Ning Rongrong blinked her big eyes and asked: "Teacher, do I also have to participate in solo matches?"
She pointed to herself, "I'm a support system, you know."
"Of course you have to participate. What, no confidence in yourself?"
"No, not at all!"
Ning Rongrong quickly shook her head, a hint of slyness on her face.
"I'm afraid I might accidentally injure an opponent to death with a counter-attack. After all, we don't know how careful the other party will be. If someone dies, wouldn't we have to pay a lot of money?"